But emissions remain a hurdle for the provinces, which has legislated targets for reductions.

Legislation dictates that emissions are to be reduced by at least a third below 2007 levels by 2020.

Polak has also been told that while B.C. estimates that between 0.3 and three per cent of natural gas extracted is lost as fugitive methane emissions, other North American jurisdictions and scientific literature estimate that rate is between seven and eight per cent.

The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates between four and nine per cent is lost.

However, in B.C. regulations are significantly different, the briefing notes pointed out.

The province’s Climate Action Secretariat and Natural Gas Development Ministry are working with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) to test technology to curb emissions, said the internal documents.

“Though significant, this work does not address concerns about potential fracking-related emissions from geological formations, poor cement casing or produced water storage tanks,” said the briefing prepared last July.

Polak declined a request for an interview.

“Based on academic research and work in the United States, there is concern that fugitive or unplanned emissions from oil and gas facilities are higher than currently reported in B.C.,” the ministry said in an emailed statement to The Canadian Press.

The federal government has updated its GHG emissions formula and the province “is examining” when to update its own regulations, it said.

The Climate Action Secretariat is working with the association and industry to find ways to reduce emissions and “ensure emissions levels are properly understood,” it said.

They’ve initiated a joint study of emissions levels and, as a result of updated information, the province has removed an outdated metering requirement, the statement said.

“International greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and measurement practices are changing as research and the understanding of science evolves,” the ministry said.

B.C. has been underestimating the impact of methane, said Tom Pedersen, executive director of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, a collaboration between the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Northern British Columbia.

But provincial officials are very aware of the challenges, he said.

“This is not something that they are trying to sweep under the rug. They are concerned about it and they are trying to put in place appropriate regulations to deal with it,” Pedersen said.

That will require intensive monitoring and enforcement of regulations, he said.

“At the same time, one does have to be realistic about this, there is pushback from industry,” Pedersen said. “They would prefer not to have regulations of course.”

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